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Many people are questioning why a police officer and his wife can steal marijuana and consume it to the point they believe they are overdosing, without any legal consequences.

Image courtesy: NORML

(DEARBORN, Mich.) - Mixed messages abound in a story about a 28-year old Dearborn, Michigan police officer named Edward Sanchez, who called 911 and said he and his wife were dying, from a marijuana brownie overdose. It turns out the weed was stolen from criminal suspects, and that is when this sadly comical story just starts to get traction.

It all began just over a year ago, on April 21st, 2006, when Edward Sanchez placed a phone call to 911 call from his home. During the 5-minute tape of the call, obtained by the Free Press, Sanchez tells an emergency dispatcher that he is convinced that he and his wife were overdosing on marijuana.

The 911 call has been all over TV and the Internet in the past few days, and we have it posted below, courtesy of YouTube and ignorancedenied.com.

The call is not overly graphic in nature, but it is fairly incredible that an officer of the law would risk his career in such a way. Private information like the officer's address has been bleeped out.

Some regard the ultimate lack of prosecution or seeming accountability in the case, as a sad testimony to the life with "the privilege of a few in blue."

Others call it a story about a bad apple, which most organizations have at least one of, and the fact that he is a police officer is the only thing that makes it sensational and publicized. It does amount to the same treatment that a celebrity receives for simple offenses like drunk driving. Either way, the word on this one is out, and most people still seem to believe that police officers should be held to a higher standard.

For many, the 911 call is nothing less than a blatant testimony about the lack of education that exists between marijuana use, and its relationship to a person's health. Marijuana is something that countless millions of Americans use with some degree of regularity. But laws stemming back to the 1930's that are still in effect on a federal level, have made marijuana a silent subject that most users do not dare to ask questions about.

The thing is, you expect the story to go like this... "The officer was relieved of his position and charged with stealing criminal evidence and disorderly conduct. He was also faces a charge of possession of marijuana."

But instead, The AP reports that Sanchez managed to avoid criminal prosecution, even though he admitted taking the marijuana and, with his wife, baking it into brownies.

He told the dispatcher over the telephone that they used "A quarter ounce" of marijuana when they made the brownies and added that they ate them all.

His wife, 26-year old Stacy Sanchez, voluntarily told police investigators that on another occasion, she removed cocaine from her husband's police cruiser that was part of the department's drug dog training program. She then went on a reported three-week coke binge. Stacy Sanchez has not been charged criminally either.

The Dearborn Police department's choice to not pursue a case against former Cpl. Edward Sanchez led to an outcry from several notable people in Michigan, including Dearborn City Councilman Doug Thomas.

He told a reporter that he will investigate, citing the conflict between being a police officer who arrests people for drug offenses, and confiscating it to keep for yourself.

Wayne State University criminal law professor David A. Moran described Sanchez's behavior as problematic, and he applied the same assessment of the Police Department's decision not to charge him.

"It is not as unusual as it should be for the police to look the other way when an officer commits an infraction, but this is a lot worse than the average police officer speeding a little bit," Moran told The AP.

WDIV-TV Local 4 in Dearborn reports that Dearborn Police Cmdr. Jeff Geisinger left a phone message with them, relaying that Sanchez resigned during an internal investigation. Geisinger then failed to return subsequent calls to the TV station.

It is fair to say that many people who face similar circumstances in this country see a substantially different outcome, including arrest, court, prosecution, fines, jail and prison time. Then there is always probation, and private corporations offering counseling that a person is mandated to attend and pay for.

Sanchez resigned last year from the police department in this suburb of Detroit. He declined comment Wednesday to the Detroit Free Press. It is also reported that Police Cmdr. Jeff Geisinger failed to reply to additional calls seeking comment.

Sanchez offered two versions of how they came into contact with the marijuana; at one point he said that his wife took the marijuana out of his police vehicle while he was sleeping. In a subsequent interview, he admitted he got the marijuana out of the car himself and put it in the brownie mix, police said.

Hopefully in the future, Dearborn, Michigan Police will show the public that they are an organization with accountability. In spite of legal medical marijuana, there is an example that needs to be made and carried out by all of us, but particularly police officers, elected officials, public representatives and members of the clergy and education. You have to pass a drug screening exam by urinating in a bottle to get a job at Wal-Mart, but to this day members of Congress are exempt from any such scrutiny.

Indeed, fairness and logic seems all too often in short supply these days, and people like Edward Sanchez need to talk the talk and walk the walk if he is enforcing the law.

YOU CAN HEAR THE ENTIRE 911 CALL IN THE VIDEO CLIP BELOW, COURTESY OF IGNORANCEDENIED.COM AND YOUTUBEVideo

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.

DetroitResident February 28, 2013 12:17 am (Pacific time)

Something tells me after being exposed with his follow up job at Home Depot by channel 4 that he now is a lifeguard at the YMCA puting choke holds on 9 year olds for diving in the shallow end....this guy and superiors are clearly that type.

He May 18, 2012 10:53 am (Pacific time)

Typical. I used to live in Dearborn and it's not really a surprise no charges were brought against him. I'm sure the person he took that bag from went to jail and ended up with probation and fines. I always had a hunch Dearborn's cops were crooked and now i know for sure.

420 for 5-0 March 28, 2012 7:50 pm (Pacific time)

I work with this ex-cop and see him nearly everyday. I will not say where, for his own privacy. After hearing from another co-worker that Sanchez was indeed the cop who freaked out I couldn't believe it. Since he is one of my supervisors I thought it would be funny if I sent him subliminal messages while being extremely vague. For instance, I will say, today is dragging and TIME IS GOING BY REALLY,REALLY,REALLY SLOW. lol. Another favorite remark of mine is, "DO YOU KNOW THE SCORE OF THE REDWINGS GAME?" lol. Also, another employee brought in brownies one day and I couldn't help but think about this. MAN, THIS GUY MADE A LIFE-CHANGING BATCH OF BROWNIES AND I ACTUALLY FEEL SORRY FOR HIM. Nearly everyone has partied some time in their lives and he lost his wife, his job, and his self respect over getting high once. Poor guy!

Editor: Nice!

me March 3, 2011 12:09 pm (Pacific time)

only morrons think they can die from marijuana.

Outlaw Baker November 20, 2010 3:09 pm (Pacific time)

If there are any other police officers having a hard time mixing pot and chocolate, the Outlaw Baker has a proposition.
Legalize hemp and marijuana at the federal and state levels to begin marijuana bakery delivery services with doctor prescribed doses of sativa marijuana from outlawbakery.com

Benny Medrano November 17, 2010 9:24 am (Pacific time)

Damn, this lady's voice is annoying.

LOLHAHA June 23, 2010 5:50 pm (Pacific time)

guess some CANADIAN HIGH GRADE made its was over the border into Detroit and got a cop fired...HAHAHA

fifiluva June 22, 2010 6:48 am (Pacific time)

LOL... if you are going to make and eat pot brownies, you MUST have alternate brownies available for when the munchies kick in! My roomie in college and I put a quarter bag of weed and an eighth of pure crypy (marijuana buds) in a batch of brownies thinking we'd eat a small one each and cut the rest into little ones and eat them on other days... unfortunately we smoked while the brownies were baking and ate the entire pan when it was done. I remember being scared cuz I was trying to stir up a yogurt and when I stopped the yogurt kept spinning... but even WE knew not to call 911!

westly May 19, 2010 6:12 am (Pacific time)

who ever said weed is illegal to put mexicans an blacks in jail... you are an idiot

seveneight May 7, 2010 12:24 pm (Pacific time)

Wow....a Mexican freaking out on weed?
That cant be true. Mexicans love weed. Thats the only reason its illegal is to put Mexicans ( and Blacks, too) in jail.

cris January 25, 2010 7:59 am (Pacific time)

No you cant od on weed. and he is stupid for selling himself out like that.

Anonymous September 28, 2009 10:54 pm (Pacific time)

It is so obvious that this poor guy was panic-attacking and so was his wife. back in college there were always kids who would smoke too much and flip out cuz they weren't used to how it made them feel. Dude wasn't accustomed to being buzzed, never had weed brownies before and didnt realize how high they would get. Weed brownies get you SO buzzed. Everyone knows that! Poor dude sounded like a baby touching the hot stove for the first and last time. Unless you are a really low key, chill, un-flappable person, DO NOT do more than a little. Eating entire batch of weed brownies = perfect recipe for all-put panic attack!!

kelly laubach September 23, 2009 2:45 pm (Pacific time)

MAN! I wonder where they got their weed at? I want some of that!!

eric September 12, 2009 12:52 am (Pacific time)

i want to be a cop so bad but i smoke and afraid i would never get hired!

hiritenow September 8, 2009 8:11 pm (Pacific time)

THAT was a good laugh!!!!

dan July 9, 2009 6:24 pm (Pacific time)

well in order to OD on Marijuana, you would have to spoke about 15,000 lbs in approximately 15 min. for the average person. I dont think anyone is capaple of doing such a feat ;) Plus, Marijuana is amazing in medical aspects from pain reliever to actual reversal of cancer such as Glycoma. Marijuana should be legalized, taxed, and used for production of multitudes of products from lotions, paper, and feed for livestock. Tax and regulate you also push illegal cartels out of business, thugs on the streets selling a more hardcore drug wouldn't be coming into contact with as many minors. The fact is Marijuana no matter who you are is easy to get, especially in high school. Take the drug dealers out of the equation (who might also sell crack, coke, X, ect.) and your kids are far more safe. Marijuana should be sold at dispensarys that have a 21 yr age limit. Regulation of the product is the most important aspect. Regulating Marijuana the same way you would regulate hard alcohol ensures that responsable, law abiding citezens can use Marijuana. It's scientic facts prove that Marijuana is far less harmful then alcohol and tabaco. Only reason it's not legal is because of tight ass politicians who forseen Hemp as a huge competition...which it was. Hypocrits. help make a difference. www.norm.org and www.myspace.com/natlnorm

I'm stoned right now. And writing this might not be the best thing to to right now. But it was funny seeing the securitypolice guy bashing this ex fellow cop buddy.
lol.... you loser.. always a dumb ass in every job

Schlomo February 5, 2009 3:59 pm (Pacific time)

How come cops aren't at least trained in terms of the effects caused by the most common drugs they are hired to enforce law upon? That way, this guy would still have his job, and be a "smarter" officer because of better training. The "red eyes" and odor factor is all they're taught. And forget coke, unless they find it in a search, most cops are NOT going to detect booger-sugar usage by observing. In fact, this is why more crooked law employees enjoy coke, recreationally, than they do Mary Jane. Peace.

anaonymous January 4, 2009 11:57 am (Pacific time)

all i can say is that i used to work with this arrogant ass clown back at Fairlane Town Center when he was a Security Police Seargent. What goes around comes around. No one has any sympathy for you arrogant ass Eddy. Im not surprised by the part where it says your wife went on a "coke binge" either. It takes an idiot to marry an idiot. I always knew it would be a matter of time before you f%^$#d up a good thing, and sure enough you are an idiot so that didnt take too long now did it "Mr. sancez" what a joke you are., LOL LOL LOL By the way how is life at the "Home Depot" you silly clown.

Jayde M December 12, 2008 3:38 pm (Pacific time)

HAHAHAHA!!

bong toka September 22, 2008 9:51 pm (Pacific time)

SMOKE WEED EVERYDAY,
or eat it if ur a "pig"

edo July 15, 2008 12:45 pm (Pacific time)

this happened to me...i hate a hash brownie too, think it's some kind of panic attack...first you start to think you're getting dumb...cause you think and say funny things, you have a distorted perception of time (Really distorted),space and even your body, then everything it's so unbelievable and strange...and in the and you think you're a ghost or dead...it was my first and my last experience with drugs

GW Bush! June 14, 2008 2:41 pm (Pacific time)

The State of Michigan has cost me over $6,000 in court costs, legal fees, etc.. to defend our son for a very, very small amount of marijuana police found in a rented vehicle while he and 2 friends were on their way to Philadelphia. It wasn't even his but he was charged with possession via the mail (he never got the mail...he was arrested for missing the supposed court date). This cop (despite being a simple minded idiot) that was involved with the Brownie incident and his wife should be fully prosecuted with extreme prejuidice! That's what sucks about this country and Michigan in particular...too many double standards and too many losers in the legal and law enforcement fields.

Megan April 30, 2008 7:14 am (Pacific time)

BLAZE UP..

DispatchGuy April 26, 2008 12:23 am (Pacific time)

CJBAY: 911 calls are recorded the second the call drops into the trunk system. This would include the ringing and any audio coming through the phone receiver. This call is legit.

CJBAY April 18, 2008 10:29 am (Pacific time)

This whole story is fake. I heard the supposed recording on youtube and the 911 operator picks up the phone to talk to the guy, only thing is....you hear the guy talking to his wife on the phone while the phone is ringing and THEN you hear the operator. How could the operator have recorded the cop and the phone ringing? FAKE story

anon April 7, 2008 10:38 pm (Pacific time)

i was the officer on site at the time funny thing is he looked normal and not high

Grrr March 16, 2008 11:20 am (Pacific time)

Isn't Dearborn overseen by a prosecuting attorney? How is it possible that the local police department can decide if charges will be filed - and no higher authority (state attorney general ??) can possess the backbone to enforce the law? What's the statute of limitations there? Where is the OUTRAGE from media outlets in Michigan?

Brad Krull February 10, 2008 10:26 am (Pacific time)

Cops always have the best stuff, too bad I'm a bad boy and can't be in their club obove the laws.

honestjane January 21, 2008 9:45 pm (Pacific time)

ok guys honestly, can this really happen?!?!?!?!??!!

honestjane January 21, 2008 9:34 pm (Pacific time)

ok guys honestly, can this really happen?!?!?!?!??!!

Rafael January 15, 2008 2:30 pm (Pacific time)

LOL I love it.
they should give back the quarter to the guy that was taken from and legalize it!!!
and sell rolling papers with the face of the cop on it that way we ensure a good laugh everytime.

Lee C December 16, 2007 2:24 am (Pacific time)

i know how this lil bastard felt! i smoked a quarter ounce by myself and thought i was in a coma and the only way to get out of it was to kill myself, but i was juss like, "yea boi..whoo-h-hoo!" and look how i turned out?!!..
juss fine* LMAO.
was pretty freaky/fun though (x_x)

mi-420-ke December 15, 2007 1:11 am (Pacific time)

you can od on weed... 40,000 blunts though... if i had that much dying would not be an issue...

David November 22, 2007 1:02 pm (Pacific time)

The tradgedy here is ofcourse the poor kid who actually paid money for that marijuana only to have it stolen by a cop and get thrown in jail.
Also when even cops start disrespecting the laws they are supposed to uphold this bad it is definetly time to change the laws

anon October 25, 2007 7:46 pm (Pacific time)

He justifiably lost his career and any chance to be a cop anywhere else. That's much more than can be said for someone else arrested for weed or driving drunk...they just get a small fine and continue their normal lives. He f'd up and paid a price...let it be.

Anonymous October 12, 2007 11:35 am (Pacific time)

you can't overdose on marijuana, but you can feel like you are going to die. i understand what the cop is going through because your heart feels like it's going to pop out of your chest, but i still think it's wrong that he didn't get in trouble.
in a way he learned his lesson. no more brownies for him!

J September 20, 2007 3:50 pm (Pacific time)

He is An Idiot I mean the worst high Ive ever had just made me super paranoid and think grimlins were on my sisters car. you cant die from pot!! unless your allergic or from laughing to death!

D. Smiley September 19, 2007 3:10 pm (Pacific time)

I love the operator. She rocks. She just can't believe how stupid they are, and yet, she remains so professional. Hillairious!

no name September 17, 2007 8:06 pm (Pacific time)

funny, i work with this guy before haha. i knew he was a cop and when i ask him why he left he stated that it was some dumb stuff. No one knew about this until now.

foo bar September 1, 2007 12:17 am (Pacific time)

I don't think the cop should be fired. I think he should be laughed at, especially by other stoned people. Take that, ya newb! lmao!
Time to get rid of that stupid ass twist of capitalism masquerading as a law(tm).

Joe Bucci August 25, 2007 12:36 pm (Pacific time)

He should get slammed with every infraction of the law he's made. Busted, Fired, Fined, and Rehabbed!! JUST LIKE ANY OF US WOULD!!!
Peace

Nikkie August 20, 2007 2:42 am (Pacific time)

Call me retarded but i first thought u can od on weed? than i was like nooo.. and than i heard him tlking more and i was thinking man he's just TRIPPIN.. Lol

General dwayne wade macentyre August 11, 2007 2:55 pm (Pacific time)

they are weed brownies. get it?
p.s. just need someone to tell me how long it takes to get high off of them

xcrimsonwinterskyx July 29, 2007 5:45 pm (Pacific time)

Celebrities are not arresting people for drunk driving. That is all.

Toasted dna June 9, 2007 10:21 pm (Pacific time)

yea u can od on weed its allot thou and some pople can be ilergic to it

the funny thing is June 5, 2007 8:47 pm (Pacific time)

this cop lived by me off annapolis

chelle chelle June 2, 2007 10:30 am (Pacific time)

What a jackass. Some people, even cops, really are so stupid. Who in their right mind thinks they can overdose from eating brownies? Was he raised in a cave?

Johnboy- Detroit IMMC May 20, 2007 4:29 pm (Pacific time)

Its a shame that the good people of this country can't indulge without fear of leagal turmoil and a life lableing confrontation with the powers that be.... why should this PIG and his pork loving wife be exempt?! I say slam his and her arse' and give them a taste of what so many of us have had to endure. Oh and one more thing... those Congressmen that dont get tested.....why? How can they have a different standard than "THE PEOPLE" that they are there to govern AND SERVE?????

Jaydee May 19, 2007 1:25 pm (Pacific time)

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

zsandmann May 19, 2007 10:29 am (Pacific time)

I would like to thank Tim King and the Salem-News for the shout out and link to Ignorance Denied. This story is a sticky one, and is certainly worthy of the scrutiny it is getting. It really seems there is a double standard at play here.

Anonymous May 19, 2007 9:32 am (Pacific time)

The living room ground??? lol

Realeyez May 18, 2007 3:59 pm (Pacific time)

It's obvious that the guy is fine, but listening to him freak out is fun. For a cop, and a drug using wife, they have very little experience or knowledge. No you can't OD on pot.....

mmmm a 1/4 zip of maby some chronic? i wish i got that high.. but i dont get it the stANDERd 1 zip per stick rule leaves me buzzed its better to use bubble hash.. and i dont thank cops should still i dont get free weed and im sick. and that pig should ditch his junky wife.

Achtung People! May 18, 2007 10:56 am (Pacific time)

You have to read this article and listen to the recording. It is classic.

DV May 18, 2007 10:12 am (Pacific time)

I think just overdosed on stupidity...

Paul May 18, 2007 10:12 am (Pacific time)

Of course you can't OD on weed. THC is NOT toxic like alcohol. You can smoke until you forget who you are, but no, you can't OD on cannabis. Goes to show you how misinformed our drug policies are.

weed head May 18, 2007 9:38 am (Pacific time)

you can od on weed?

Jared May 18, 2007 7:09 am (Pacific time)

Image courtesy NORML... not NORMALFixed by Matt Thank You

FuzzBuster May 18, 2007 6:19 am (Pacific time)

The answer is to throw out Archaic Law!

Albert Marnell May 18, 2007 6:13 am (Pacific time)

Tim,
This story is great! Thanks!
I am laughing my ass off- mostly because it shows people what I talk about all of the time. This stuff is as common as dirt. Your going to get some people saying that this does not represent the integrity of law enforcement....OH YES IT DOES!...marijuana, favors, kickbacks, protection money, police brutality, tasering defenseless people (like the women I have seen recently on video plus the young Kansas man-teen that was killed by tasers because the police said he was acting bizarre. What do they take steroids for if they are going to kill people with Tasers....heart attacks and convulsions. Real smart to taser a person over 30; how about 70? This story is TRIPLE CHERRIES AT VEGAS AND ATLANTIC CITY!
www.badcopnews.com

Albert Marnell May 18, 2007 5:58 am (Pacific time)

Like I always say, "Keep an eye on that evidence room!"
People are really going to have fun with this one.